Bangdaebon, Analysis of 63 Early Users
69.1% Experienced Taste Changes (Bitter) During Use, 23.6% Had Diarrhea Symptoms
96% of Users "Would Recommend Paxlovid to Close Contacts Who Test Positive"
On the morning of the 14th, at a pharmacy in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, the oral COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid was delivered, and a pharmacist and a representative from the domestic distributor are checking the quantity. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] It was found that 8 out of 10 patients who took Pfizer's oral COVID-19 treatment 'Paxlovid' showed improvement in symptoms after taking the medication.
There were no cases of worsening to severe illness or death during the treatment. Seven out of 10 patients reported experiencing taste changes, specifically a bitter taste.
On the 31st, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced the results of the 'Initial Oral Treatment User Survey' during a regular briefing.
The survey analyzed the health status before and after taking Paxlovid, demographic characteristics, and treatment progress of 63 initial domestic users of Paxlovid starting from the 14th.
Among the 63 users, 51 (81.0%) received prescriptions from home treatment management medical institutions. The remaining 12 (19.0%) were prescribed at residential treatment centers.
Of these, 60 (95.2%) completed the 5-day course. Three (4.8%) discontinued due to persistent fever and taste changes.
Among the 55 respondents who participated in the survey, respiratory symptoms, sore throat, fever, and muscle pain were reported before taking Paxlovid. After taking the medication, 44 (80%) reported symptom improvement.
Among them, 23 (41.8%) answered that "all symptoms disappeared." Thirteen (23.6%) said "significantly improved," and eight (14.5%) said "partially improved."
Ten (18.2%) reported "no significant difference," and one (1.8%) reported "worsened condition compared to before taking the medication."
Of the 55 respondents, 38 (69.1%) experienced taste changes (bitter taste) during treatment. Thirteen (23.6%) experienced diarrhea symptoms.
Moreover, 96.4% (53 people) of respondents said they would recommend Paxlovid to other COVID-19 patients around them.
The average time from COVID-19 diagnosis to Paxlovid prescription was 1.4 days, and the average time from symptom onset to prescription was 2.3 days.
Lee Sangwon, head of the CDCH Epidemiological Investigation and Analysis Division, said during the regular briefing, "Along with the possibility of such (symptom improvement) effects, the processes of bed allocation, non-face-to-face medical consultation, and prescription after patient confirmation and reporting were relatively smooth," adding, "We will continue to manage the supply and usage system stably so that COVID-19 treatments, including Paxlovid, can be supplied and used timely by patients."
The government has secured a total of 1,004,000 doses of oral treatments, combining 762,000 doses of Pfizer's Paxlovid and 242,000 doses of Merck & Company (MSD)'s molnupiravir.
The initial shipment of 21,000 doses of Paxlovid arrived in Korea on the 13th. An additional 11,000 doses are expected to arrive on the 1st of next month, with the remaining quantities arriving sequentially.
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